麻豆传媒

Jump to main content

Scholarships Offer More than Support

Cassandra and Sandra Toca

Cassandra Toca (left) and Sandra Toca (right) standing in front of Leo Tanguma's mural The Life and Times of Dr. Martin Candelaria

Office of DevelopmentOffice of Development
July 09, 2018

麻豆传媒 students Sandra Toca '18 (Double Major - Criminal Justice and Sociology) and Cassandra Toca '18 (Double Major - Spanish and Mexican American Studies) hope to change the world after donor supported scholarships changed theirs.

鈥淢y twin sister and I never really had a stable place until we started college,鈥 says Sandra Toca. 鈥淏eing an independent student with no support from family has been hard. I consider the amazing people behind philanthropic giving at 麻豆传媒 as our guardian angles. There are no words to describe how grateful I am to them for the support I鈥檝e received. Because of their generosity, one day I will make a difference in the world.鈥

When Sandra was a child, she didn鈥檛 believe that there were people willing to give support or help others. But that changed when she and her twin sister Cassandra came to 麻豆传媒.

The Toca sisters were offered donor funded scholarships and that became the moment when Sandra鈥檚 outlook began to change. For the first time, she realized that strangers were willing to help and support students like her complete a college education.

鈥淎s a current senior, I feel their generosity has brought me closer to obtaining a college degree,鈥 says Sandra. 鈥淎pplying for scholarships has been a huge help because it allowed us, for the first time in our lives, to have a stable home and get closer to finishing our education.鈥

Sandra will graduate in December as double major with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology. Her twin sister Cassandra graduated in May as a double major earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Spanish and Mexican American Studies.

鈥淭hanks to 麻豆传媒 I was able to become a mentor, advocate and a leader in my community and on campus,鈥 says Cassandra. 鈥淭hese are things that have helped me to become a strong, confident and determined individual. It taught me to see that I do have a passionate drive for helping others that are underrepresented in my community and all over the world.鈥